Precautionary principle

When someone of Martha Nussbaum's pedigree speaks publicly about a forthcoming educational and political crisis, we had better take notice ("World crisis in humanities, not many hurt", 21 October). I strongly support Nussbaum's commitment to precaution over complacency. As many great philosophers, including Martin Heidegger and Rudolf Steiner, have noted, by far the most effective antidote to the deadening soullessness and arid utilitarianism of technological "modernity" - and to the associated ascendancy of J.F. Lyotard's "inhuman" - is to immerse ourselves in the arts and artistic creativity of all kinds. For such a project, education at every level should surely be the starting point.

Richard House, Research Centre for Therapeutic Education, Roehampton University.